Stereotype casting box



y 19,411 a. M. CLARK ,2

S'i'EREiOTYPE CASTING BOX Filed May 15, 1939 4 M 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1941- G. M. CLARK 2,242,943

STEREOTYPE CASTING BOX Filed May 13, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 if 1 wr a/Z/Z Z W M s Patented May 20, 1941 rice STE RE OTYPE OAS TING BOX Claims.

In the casting of stereotypes it is the practice to insert in a casting box a matrix into which have been impressed the desired characters and to place in front of the top marginal portion of the matrix the lower margin of a metal pouring sheet or tail to direct the molten type metal to the forward face of the matrix so as to reduce to the minimum any probability of the metal running in behind the matrix between it and a supporting wall of the casting box against which it should engage.

The present invention has for an object the elimination of the necessity of using a pouring sheet, there being provided in the casting box effective and simple means for directing the molten metal to the proper side of the matrix and for holding the matrix back against the mating Wall so as to effectually prevent the metal from getting in back of the matrix.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a fragmentary horizontal section on line ll of Figure 2 through the two mold parts of a power-operated machine for casting curved printing plates, the two parts being shown separated so that the mold is open, this machine exemplifying the present invention.

F'igure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in central vertical section through another type of casting machine constructed in accordance with this invention, the mold being shown open.

Figure 4 is a section on line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail section on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of another type of casting machine embodying the invention.

Figure '7 is a top plan of the same partly broken away.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, at l and 2 are indicated the cooperating mold members of a casting box of an automatic power-operated stereotype casting machine. The member 2 is provided with a concave inner face 3 shaped to receive and support the back face of a curved matrix 4 into which have been impressed in the usual manner the characters or other matter which is to be printed. At 5 are illustrated the end clamping members which not only support the side edges of the matrix in position, but in the well known manner engage portions (not shown) of the mold member I locking the two mold members together in closed position for casting.

As shown best in Figure 2, there is provided in the mold member 2 a shoulder 6 of annular form projecting out from the face 3 toward the mold member I and of a width substantially equal to the thickness of the matrix and against which the upper edge of the matrix may bear. Above the shoulder 6 is a face I also of curved contour mating the curvature of the face 3, the lower edge 8 of which is positioned forwardly of the front face 9 of the matrix. This face 1 may be upright or downwardly and inwardly inclined, as desired. A downwardly and rearwardly inclined curved wall portion in joins the lower edge 8 of the pouring face I with the forward edge of'the shoulder 6. This pouring face I is so positioned as to direct the molten type metal downwardly well in front of the matrix 4, and means may be provided for holding the matrix 4 hack firmly against the supporting face 3. As shown this means consists of one or more grooves It arranged substantially parallel to the shoulder 6 and extending substantially from end to end of the matrix. Toward opposite side edges of the matrix this groove or grooves' I12 communicate through pipes with a suction head ll. This suction head is connected through a pipe l8 with any suitable air exhaust means (not shown) so that when the suction is produced, the upper portion of the matrix is pressed back against the face 3 by the excess atmospheric pressure on its forward face.

It will be seen from this description that the pouring face I has the function of the forward face of the pouring sheet or tail heretofore used in directing the molten metal correctly into the mold, so that it bears against the forward face of the matrix, and since the top edge portion of the matrix is held back against the wall face 3 by the suction mechanism, it is not necessary that the pouring surface be extended over and against the forward face of the matrix as with the usual pouring sheets or tails in order that the matrix may be held in place and prevent the entry of molten metal between it and the wall 3.

In Figures 3 to 5 is illustrated a :casting machine of the hand type to which this invention has been applied. In such machines it is usual practice to employ a stationary convex mold member 39 and a movable mold member 3 I, which when in casting position is arranged vertically as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, but which when opened is turned into a substantially horizontal position as shownin'full lines in this figpouring surface 7a is correctly positioned to propure. Ordinarily this turning of the movable mold member is produced by supporting it on track rollers 32 and 33 which engage track members 34 and 35 at opposite sides of the machine. These track rollers 32 and 33 may be carried by suitable feet 36 and 31. The rollers 32 are guided on the track portions 34 and the inner portion of the under face of the track member 35, while the rollers 33 are supported on the upper faces of the track members 35. The movable mold member is thus guided between the dotted line position shown in Figure 3 wherein casting is accomplished, and the substantially horizontal position in which the cast plate may be removed. In this machine the pouring surface la, instead of being carried on a part integral with the mold portion 4| which has the matrix supporting surface 3a, is carried on a separate part 4|). This part 40, however, is secured to the member 4| for limited sliding motion to such an extent that when the mold member 3| is in its horizontal open position, the part 30 may drop sufficiently so that the inner edge of the pouring surface la is at least not above the inner surface of the member 3|. This permits the cast plate to be removed from the machine by sliding it away from the fixed mold member 30 and across the part 46. With this part not made separate, the inner or lower edge of the pouring surface would interpose an obstruction to the free removal of the cast plate. The part 40 may be supported in any suitable mannor to provide for this motion, but as shown there are mating dovetail portions as at 45 between the parts it and ti which permit this sliding motion, an annular shoulder 46 on the member 40 limiting the extent of sliding motion downwardly of the part 43 when the movable mold member is substantially horizontal. By lifting the portion Gil, however, it is possible to entirely remove this member whenever this should be desired.

When the movable mold member is raised to vertical position it is important that the member li] be moved forwardly toward the fixed mold member 36 before attempting to cast the plate in order that the pouring surface la shall be properly presented to direct the molten metal in front of the front face of the matrix. To this end means which is employed to clamp the mold members together may also include means engaging and forcing the part ii! forwardly to correct pouring position. As shown, for example, in Figure 3 a pair of cam hooks i! and 5| may be employed fulcrumed at 52 and 53, respectively, and joined at one end of each by the connecting link 54. One of. these cam link members may be provided with an actuating handle 55, and by moving it, both of the cam hooks 5!! and 5| are moved simultaneously. There may, of course, be a pair of these cam. hooks on each side of the stationary mold member and they may be connected for simultaneous actuation if desired. The hook 55 is adapted to coact with a follower pin 56 pro- J'ecting from the portion 4| of the movable mold member 3|, while the hook 5| may engage a similar follower pin 5'! carried by the part 40, the

. parts being so arranged that the swing of the hook 5| in clamping direction will engage the pins 57 and slide the member an forwardly so that its erly direct the flow of. the molten metal. It will thus be seen that when the movable mold member is locked in closed position, its upper portion is fonced forwardly so that it is in proper position for a pouring operation. After the pouring operation these hooks may be moved to release the movable mold section which then may be swung down into its horizontal position of Figure 3, the mold member 40 sliding downwardly so as to afford no obstruction to the free removal of the castplate thereover. The upper portion of the mold part 4| is provided in the upper portion of its matrix-engaging face with one or more arcuate grooves |2a similar to the grooves 2 shown in Figure 2, these being connected through pipes and headers with the suction pipe l8 as previously described, so that when the movable mold member 3| is in casting position, the matrix will be held pressed back against the supporting wall 3a at its upper margin and beneath the annular shoulder formed by the lower edge of the member 4|! which has been slid forwardly.

In Figures 6 and 7 the invention is shown as embodied in a casting machine of still another type. In these figures, 6|! and 6| indicate the stationary and movable mold section's, respectively. The section 60 is permanently supported in substantially vertical position on the side rail frames 63. An intermediate portion of. the mold section 64 has outstanding lugs 64 on each side carrying journaled supporting wheels 65 grooved to engage and track upon the top edges of the rames 63. One end of the section Si is provided with a boss 68 to opposite sides of which are pivoted the links 66. The opposite ends of these links are pivoted as on pins 8'! to the opposite frames 63. These parts are so arranged that the section 6| may be rolled toward the section 60 from the full line position shown in Figures 6 and '7 to substantially vertical position, shown in dotted lines, in which the section 3| cooperates with the section 3 0 to form a casting ichamber. The matrix 4 is arranged to be supported in the mold section 60 in vertical position and this mold section is constructed similarly to the section 2 shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4. Thus it has the gate wall 1! corresponding to the face 1 shown in Figure 2, a backwardly inclined portion 18 similar to the edge 8 shown in Figure 2, and the back concave face l9 to receive the matrix. This back face 19 is provided with one or more grooves I2 back of the upper portion of the matrix and the suction pipes which lead into these grooves. By exhausting air to the main exhaust pipe 8| which communicates with the pipes 83 the upper portion of the matrix is pressed back against the face 19 as in the construction of Figures 1, 2 and 4. The upper portion of the section 6| is formed with an inclined face 83 positioned opposite to the face Tl when the section 5| is in upright operative position, thus to form the opposite side of the gate to receive the molten type metal from the supply pipe 82.

In order to lock the mold sections together when in casting relation, a pair of clamping strips 85 are secured to the front face of the section 60, one on each side, with which cooperate mating sealing strips 86 movably carried by the part 6|. These strips 85 are arranged to be retracted to clear the strips 85 to permit the section 6| tobe moved to its horizontal full line position shown, or to be extended into sealing engagement with the strips 35. As shown this is done by two pairs of rock arms 88 in the form of bell crank levers having their adjacent ends overlapping and secured by a pin and slot connection as at 89 to a bar 93 which causes these two sets of rock arms to be operated simultaneously. Ihe outer ends of the bell crank levers engage in longitudinally arranged slots ill in the strips 85, so that by rocking these arms the strips are caused to move tcwar and from each other and simultaneously at opposite ends so that they are retained in parallel relation at all times. This rocking may be effected by the hand lever 95 which may be engaged with one end of the rod 95, this handle 95 also serving as a convenient means for swinging the section (ll between its vertical and horizontal positions. When the section Si is turned to its horizontal position after the casting of a stereotype plate, this plate is moved with it, and when in its horizontal position, the plate can be slid endwise ofi therefrom and into a suitable trimming mechanism (not shown), contained between the portions 96 of the frame members 63, when the gate may be cut ofi so that the plate may be conditioned for insertion in the printing press.

From the foregoing description of certain embodiments of this invention, it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A stereotype mold member presenting a face against which the rear face of a matrix may engage, said member having a shoulder above said face of a width substantially the thickness of the matrix and against which shoulder the top edge of the matrix may engage, said member having above said shoulder a pouring face portion extending downwardly in position to direct molten type metal forwardly of the matrix, said pouring face terminating forwardly of said shoulder, and said member having a face downwardly and rearwardly inclined extending from the lower edge of said pouring face to said shoulder.

2. A stereotype mold member presenting a face against which the rear face of a matrix may engage, said member having a shoulder above said face of a width substantially the thickness of the matrix and against which shoulder the top edge of the matrix may engage, said member having above said shoulder a pouring face portion inclined inwardly and downwardly in position to direct molten type metal forwardly of the matrix, said pouring face terminating forwardly of said shoulder, and said member having a face downwardly and rearwardly inclined extending from the lower edge of said pouring face to said shoulder, said mold member comprising a pair of parts movable relatively transverse to said matrix, one of said parts including said matrixengaging face and the other of said parts including said shoulder and said pouring face, such relative movement permitting the removal of said shoulder from its normal casting position in which it obstructs the removal of a cast plate lengthwise of said wall member to non-obstructing position.

3. A stereotype mold member presenting a face against which the rear face of a matrix may engage, said member having a shoulder above said face of a width substantially the tliii-ckness of the matrix and against which shoulder the top edge of the matrix may engage, said member having above said shoulder a pouring face portion inclined inwardly and downwardly in position to direct molten type metal forwardly of the matrix, said pouring face terminating forwardly of said shoulder, and said member having a face downwardly and rearwardly inclined extending from the lower edge of said pouring face to said shoulder, said mold member comprising a pair of parts movable relatively transverse to said matrix, one of said parts including said matrix-engaging face and the other of said parts including said'shoulder and said pouring face, such relative movement permitting the removal of said shoulder from its normal casting position in which it obstructs the removal of a cast plate lengthwise of said wall member to non-obstructing position, and means for retaining said parts against separation in one direction.

4. In a stereotype molding machine having a pair of mold members, means supporting one of said members for motion between a substantial upright position in which it is closed to the other of said members for casting and a substantially horizontal open position, said one member having a face portion to support the back face of a matrix and a pouring face portion for directing molten type metal in front of said matrix when said mold is closed, said pouring face portion when in pouring position extending forwardly of said matrix front face and being on a part movably supported relative to said matrix supporting face to fall by gravity away from its projecting position when said movable member is moved to open position to permit the cast plate to be slid thereover and so removed from said machine.

5. In a stereotype molding machine having a pair of mold members, means supporting one of said members for motion between a substantial upright position in which his closed to the other of said members for casting and a substantially horizontal open position, said one member havinga face portion to support the back face of a matrix and a pouring face portion for directing molten type metal in front of said matrix when said mold is closed, said pouring face portion when in pouring position extending forwardly of said matrix front face and being on a part movably supported relative to said matrix-supporting face to fall by gravity away from its projecting position when said movable member is moved to open position to permit the cast plate to be slid thereover and so removed from said machine, and means effective to clamp said members together and to move to and to hold said part in pouring position when said mold is closed.

GEORGE M. CLARK. 

